Visualizing and analyzing global knowledge maps and emerging research trends in tumor-derived exosomes using CiteSpace

Abstract Objective Tumor-derived exosomes testing can be effective in diagnosing disease and assisting in the treatment of disease. Our study utilizes bibliometric analysis to identify research hotspots related to tumor-derived exosomes, predict emerging research frontiers and development trends, and offer diverse perspectives for advancing research in this field. Methods Search the Web of Science Core Collection for English-language literature published on the field of tumor-derived exosomes from 2015 to 2024. CiteSpace(6.2.R3) software was utilized to visualize the distribution of countries/regions, institutions, authors, co-cited authors, and co-cited journals within the relevant literature. Additionally, co-occurrence, clustering, and emergence analyses were conducted on the co-cited references. Results An analysis of 2523 articles meeting the inclusion criteria revealed a steady increase in the number of publications in this field over the past decade. In terms of countries/regions, institutions, authors, and journals that published articles, the most productive were China, Ministry of Education-China, Theresa L. Whiteside, and CANCER RES, respectively. The most influential were The United States, Harvard University, Theresa L. Whiteside, and CANCER RES, respectively. The mechanisms underlying exosomal PD-L1 and engineered exosomes are currently prominent research foci, warranting meticulous examination by the academic community. Conclusion Within the field of research on tumor-derived exosomes, current investigations appear largely concentrated on the exosome PD-L1 mechanism and engineered exosomes. Possible future research hotspots will focus on the use of engineered exosomes to target tumor cells and as a drug delivery platform for more precise therapeutic targeting.